A brain injury isn’t always what people picture.
Most people think of traumatic brain injury as something catastrophic and obvious. And it can be. But a TBI also includes concussions, which are far more common and far more disruptive than most people realize. Trouble concentrating. Persistent headaches. Mood changes. Difficulty sleeping. Memory gaps.
Here’s something most people aren’t told: a concussion is a permanent brain injury. The brain heals around the damage, but the damage itself doesn’t disappear. That’s why multiple concussions over a lifetime have cumulative effects, and why even a single concussion deserves to be taken seriously, legally and medically.
Whether you’re dealing with a concussion, post-concussion syndrome, or a more severe traumatic brain injury, your symptoms are real, your disruption is real, and your legal rights are real.
And whether you’re the one living with the injury, or you’re the spouse, parent, or adult child trying to help someone you love, you’re probably finding that the road ahead is longer and more complicated than anyone told you it would be.
How do traumatic brain injuries happen?
TBIs and concussions most commonly result from sudden impacts or jolts to the head. In Washington, the most frequent causes we see include:
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Most common Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents |
Also common Falls, slip and fall incidents |
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Other causes Sports injuries, workplace accidents, pedestrian accidents |
Severity range Concussion through severe TBI |
If someone else’s negligence played a role, you may have a claim, regardless of where on that spectrum your injury falls.
The costs add up faster than most people expect.
Brain injuries are expensive in ways that aren’t always obvious at first. Treatment that seems short-term can stretch into months or years. And the financial impact often goes well beyond the initial medical bills.
Depending on your situation, compensation in a TBI claim may include:
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Current and future treatment, rehabilitation, neurological care |
Wages lost now and reduced earning capacity long-term |
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Pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, personality changes |
Costs to family members providing care or losing work to do so |
These cases are complicated. We know where to look.
Brain injury claims involve more moving parts than most personal injury cases. Insurance companies routinely dispute the severity of the injury, especially when symptoms aren’t visible on standard imaging. And the long-term picture, medically and financially, takes time and expertise to document properly.
At Scott & Scott, we know how to build these cases. We work with medical experts, gather the right evidence, and make sure the full scope of your injury is on the record, not just what appeared in the initial report.
We also know that you may be managing all of this while helping someone else recover, or while recovering yourself. We handle the legal complexity so that piece doesn’t fall on you too.
Statute of limitations callout
| Washington state gives you three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim. That window can feel long, but evidence fades and medical records matter. The sooner you have an attorney involved, the stronger your case. |
Things you might be wondering
“It was just a concussion. Is it even worth pursuing?”
Concussions are brain injuries. If your symptoms have affected your ability to work, function, or live your life, the impact is real and may be compensable. A conversation costs nothing.
“I’m still in the middle of treatment. Is it too soon to call a lawyer?”
Actually, sooner is better. Evidence fades, deadlines exist, and the decisions you make early in the process can affect your outcome. You don’t have to have it all figured out to call us.
“I can’t really explain what’s wrong. I just know something is off.”
That’s one of the most common things we hear from TBI clients. You don’t need to have the right words. That’s what we’re here for.
“This is exhausting. Maybe I just need to rest and move on.”
You do need to rest. And we want that for you. The good news is that pursuing a claim doesn’t have to add to your load. That’s exactly what we take off your plate.
